We love pizza. We love to make pizza. I love to make a crust from scratch, either white or whole wheat, then decide what toppings to put on it. For quick lunches, the kids also enjoy pizzas made with pita bread as the “crust.” I guess you can say pizza is a routine staple at our house. Can you imagine America without pizza? I can’t!

Did you know that there is a pizza making championship competition held each year? And did you know that a guy named Tony and his very diverse team of helpers have won this competition eight times? We didn’t….but now we do, thanks to reading Tony and the Pizza Champions by Chronicle Books.

This brightly colored, paint-splattered, larger-than-life character-filled book was an instant hit at our house. The story is true, but is told in a super fun way. We come along and join Tony as he gathers the partners in his World Pizza Champions team, hopping all over the world and ending at the tournament. We read with anticipation as the team performs the saucy moves they’ve rehearsed. We cheer as the title is won, and then at the turn of the next page, we learn how to toss our own pizza dough like a pro….as well as glean Tony’s Big Cheese Pizza recipe!

I love how the words are interspersed within Matthew Trueman’s clever artwork, as well as how the text morphs along with the action on each page. The kids were awestruck at the detail in each illustration…and G was particularly fascinated with Strong Sean. (Sean’s one of the guys you’ll meet as the tale unravels and as the pizza-building team is formed.) I also love the learning that’s tucked within these pages….such as trivia about how pizza is eaten & enjoyed in various areas of the US!

Tony Gemignani has several instructional videos you can see about pizza dough ball forming, how to toss pizza dough, and fascinating pizza dough tricks!

You and your kids will enjoy reading about Tony & his crew, about the art of pizza making (and the spectacular show that can be a part of the process), and the included tips and recipe. We can’t wait to try it out! And we will certainly now be taking note and listening out for the results of the upcoming competition, coming up in April!

AND thanks to Tony & Chronicle Books, I have two recipes to share with you right now! Check these out:

Tony’s Pizza Sauce

“This is a simple sauce recipe that I love to make at home. It has just the right balance of sweetness and spice and it’s the perfect base for any type of pizza. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.” – Tony (Makes enough sauce for at least five pizzas.)

Ingredients:
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes with juice
2 cans (6 ounces each) tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons salt, or 2½ teaspoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons sugar
1 basil leaf

Directions:
In a medium bowl, combine the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, salt, and sugar. Mix well, and then add the basil leaf.
Use the sauce immediately, or store it in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze it for up to 2 months. Let it warm to room temperature before using.

Tony’s Sweet Cherry Pizza

“My Sweet Cherry Pizza has it all. It’s a quick and easy to use recipe that can be for breakfast or for dessert. If you don’t like cherry you can substitute blueberry or apple pie filling instead. Try it out and have some fun! Just make sure an adult is supervising when making this recipe.” – Tony

Ingredients:
Unbleached bread flour for dusting
1 portion Tony’s pizza dough (see Tony and the Pizza Champions for recipe)
1 small tub (8 ounces) mascarpone or cream cheese (at room temperature)
1 tablespoon powdered sugar
1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling in glaze
½ cup brown sugar

Directions:
1. Position an oven rack on the second lowest level in the oven and place a baking stone on the rack. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
2. Place your pizza dough on a lightly floured work surface. Shape and stretch your dough according to the instructions in Tony and the Pizza Champions.
3. Dust a pizza peel with flour. Using your hands, transfer the dough onto the peel. Give the peel a few shakes to make sure the pizza is not sticking.
4. In a small bowl, mix the powdered sugar and cheese. Set aside.
5. Spread the cheese on the dough leaving a 1-inch border. Put the cherry filling on top of your pizza, covering the cheese.
6. Gently shake your peel again to make sure your pizza is not sticking and quickly place it on the baking stone in your oven. Close the door and bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. (An adult should always be supervising!)
7. Take your pizza out of the oven and place onto a cutting board. Quickly sprinkle the brown sugar over the top of your pizza and let it stand for 5 minutes before serving. Cut into serving pieces and enjoy!

Tony and the Pizza Champions retails for $16.99 and can be bought directly from Chronicle Books or from wherever children’s books are sold.

Win it! Courtesy of Chronicle Books, I have one copy of Tony and the Pizza Champions to give away. Just browse around a while at Chronicle Books (Kids) and tell me another title which caught your eye or that you’d love to add to your home library. I’ll close the contest next Sunday, April 5th, 2009 at 11pm EST and announce the winner the next day, which just happens to be the first day of the World Pizza Championship 2009! US entries only. Good luck!